Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Samantha Farndale, Stowe Family Law
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Samantha Farndale, Partner at Stowe Family Law.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
As a Family Solicitor and Partner my role is to use my experience and judgement to support clients through often complex and challenging matters, while making sure they feel confident, well advised and cared for throughout the process. I aim to bring together strong technical expertise, commercial awareness and a calm, practical approach, so that clients receive advice that is both high quality and genuinely helpful. Alongside this, I work build commercial relationships. with external partners, IFAs, divorce coaches, pension experts, you name it! Clients then get a holistic service to see them through every stage of their journey.
I also see an important part of my role as being someone colleagues can rely on for support, guidance and sound judgement, particularly when dealing with more difficult or sensitive issues. Much of this is through mentoring, sharing knowledge and creating an environment where people feel encouraged, confident, and able to do their best work.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day usually starts early, as I have small children to get ready and organised for childcare before I begin work. Once things are underway at home, I like to start by checking my emails for anything urgent that may have come in overnight and reviewing my calendar, so I know exactly what the day ahead looks like.
No two days are ever quite the same in family law, which is one of the things I value most about the role. On any given day I might be working from my home office, in our London office in Victoria, or at court. If I am at home or in the office, my day is usually filled with client meetings, casework and supporting or supervising junior colleagues. If I am at court, I may be representing clients across a wide range of family matters, from protective injunctions in cases involving domestic abuse, to financial disputes or helping families resolve arrangements for children.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
I really enjoy working on complex cases, particularly those involving high-value assets spread across different jurisdictions.
One of the most rewarding parts of that work is collaborating with other professionals, whether that is accountants, pensions experts or lawyers in other parts of the world, to build the clearest possible picture for clients.
For example, I am currently working on a particularly interesting matter involving the ownership and value of assets overseas, including farmland, which is both challenging and fascinating. I also enjoy the detective work that can come with cases where assets may be hidden or not fully disclosed, or the assets’ existence denied entirely. It is the kind of work that really keeps you thinking and certainly keeps you on your toes.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
For many clients, a big part of the journey is finding the balance between thinking with their head and listening to their heart. Family law is naturally very emotive and, understandably, people can sometimes become attached to positions or arguments that may not be the most helpful or proportionate when looked at more calmly. Part of my role is to recognise the emotional weight behind those decisions, while gently helping clients step back, take on board clear advice and focus on the outcome that is fair, in their best interests and as cost-effective as possible. Sometimes that means being a lawyer, and sometimes it means being a steady hand and a calm voice of reason.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
One of my proudest professional achievements has been becoming a Partner at the age of 32. For me, it represented far more than a promotion, it was recognition of my commitment to family law, the hard work I have invested throughout my career, and the trust placed in me to take on the responsibilities that come with leadership within such a respected national firm. Becoming a Partner has given me the opportunity not only to continue delivering the highest standard of service to clients, but also to support and develop colleagues, contribute to the wider success of the firm and help shape the culture and direction of the team. Growing up in the Northeast of England, I do not think I ever truly envisaged that my career would lead me to becoming a Partner in the London office of such a reputable national law firm. Because of that, it is an achievement I am incredibly proud of, and one that has reinforced both my passion for family law and my commitment to the legal profession more broadly.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
First and foremost, empathy and emotional intelligence. In the world of family law, this is essential especially as clients are approaching us at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. However, this is hugely important for supporting and developing a team, and individuals on a more personal level. To be able to encourage, support and guide others with generosity and humility helps to create a collaborative culture – and this is something I value enormously at Stowe.
Strong leaders are committed to growth, for themselves and those around them, and on a business-wide level. Stowe’s leaders are consistently invested in the people, and people make the firm. Good leadership is about recognising the potential in others.
Finally, strong leaders are able to balance technical ability with humanity. For the people who make up a business, as well as the clients the business serves, leaders need to demonstrate their expertise whilst being approachable and kind.
Who do you most admire and why?
I always find this question quite difficult to answer because over the years you meet so many people who you admire and who inspire you in different ways. I usually end up saying something trivial like Shania Twain because of her incredible commitment to country music industry as a deflection! However, my parents have always shown me the importance and value of hard work, commitment, and giving your all to whatever you do in life, whether that’s your career, your family life, or hobbies (even if wasn’t country music)! Throughout my life and career, they have continuously supported and encouraged me, always cheering me on while leading by example themselves, and I feel very lucky to have had that influence around me growing up and into adulthood.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I recently travelled to Manchester for our annual StoweFest, which is a company-wide event that brings colleagues together from across the firm. There were over 400 of us attending for a conference and awards dinner, so it was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with people from different offices and celebrate everyone’s achievements together. Manchester may not be the most glamorous destination, but it was such a brilliant trip all the same and really reminded me of the the collaborative and supportive team around me.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
I do sometimes wonder what I might have done instead, but after deciding in my early teens that I wanted to become a solicitor, I never really gave another career path much thought. That said, after developing a slightly unhealthy obsession with Grey’s Anatomy, I think I would probably have considered a career in medicine! My husband often jokes that after binge-watching the series so many times, I seem to think I’m qualified as a doctor already.
How do you relax after a long day?
After juggling a long day at work and small children, I usually relax by having a de-brief with my husband (who is also a solicitor albeit in a commercial role) who finds the whole concept of my family law drama’s mind blowing compared to his drafting of contracts all day, following by dinner and a glass of wine in front of a good series on the TV! I would like to say something more wholesome such as do a workout or go to a yoga class, but I don’t have the time or energy for that at this stage of my life!
Stowe Family Law’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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